3-165A Solicitation to Participate in Waterfowl Harvest Survey

OMB Control No. 1018-0023
Expires XX/XX/XXXX

Division of Migratory Bird Management
Branch of Harvest Surveys
11510 American Holly Dr.
Laurel, Maryland 20708
Phone (301) 497-5980 Fax (301) 497-5981

In Reply Refer To:
FWS/DMBM

Dear Migratory Bird Hunter:

Thank you for volunteering to send us wings from the woodcock, rails, and band-tailed pigeons you shoot
this season. To better understand the population status and reproductive success of woodcock, rails, and
band-tailed pigeons, we need to know the percentage of these species that are young-of-the-year birds.
Immature birds have distinctive wing feathers that let us distinguish them from adults by
examining wings. You can help by donating ONE wing from each woodcock, rail, and band-tailed
pigeon that YOU PERSONALLY BAG this season.

Enclosed are envelopes to be used to mail us the wings. Use an inner envelope and a single pre-addressed
mailing envelope for up to five wings from a single day's hunt. If you bag more than five birds (e.g.,
rails) during one hunt, please use additional set(s) of envelopes. Before you mail your wings, fill in the
entire lower left portion of the mailing envelope. Please help us keep the mail clean by following the
directions on the back of this letter.

We need wings from birds killed throughout the season, so please send them for as long as you hunt. If
you run out of envelopes, go to https://migbirdapps.fws.gov/hipweb/ to order more envelopes. You
will need the number at the top of the enclosed postcard, next to the bar code. Or, send us the
post card that is enclosed in this package. Please DO NOT request envelopes both by the website and
by sending in the post card. DO NOT put the post card in a wing envelope as these are not opened until
after the season closes. Due to the short duration of some seasons, the extra envelopes you request may
not arrive until after the season closes. Please keep the information on when and where each bird was
harvested with the correct wings so that you can report that important information accurately when
the extra envelopes arrive. Also, please advise us if your address shown on the postcard is incorrect.

If you have any questions, please email us at MigratoryBirdHarvestSurveys@fws.gov or call us at 1-800419-2965 between 7:00 am and 4:00 pm Eastern Time. Again, thank you for helping us better manage
our shared migratory bird resource.
Sincerely,

Kathy Fleming
Chief, Branch of Harvest Surveys

Enclosures

OMB Control No. 1018-0023
Expires XX/XX/XXXX

PLEASE HELP KEEP THE MAIL CLEAN

Wet, bloody, or fly larvae-infested wings will damage other mail and create offensive odors.
Postal workers might refuse to handle your envelopes if they are bloody, greasy, or smelly. This
can be prevented if you:



remove the wings as indicated on the pre-addressed mailing envelope.



allow excess moisture or blood on wings to dry.



keep flies away from the wings.



wrap wings in paper towel - do not wrap in plastic as this speeds decay.



use two envelopes for each wing or group of wings. Insert the wings in an inner
envelope and seal the flap tightly; then place the inner envelope in the large preaddressed outer (mailing) envelope.



do not put more than five wings in an envelope



mail envelopes promptly.

In accordance with the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C.522a) and the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501), please note the following information. This study is
authorized by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.) The information that you provide will be used for estimating migratory bird hunter activity
and harvest in the United States. It is our policy not to use your name for any other purpose. All names and identifying information will be removed when we
compile the results, and only summary information will be reported. The information is maintained in accordance with the Privacy Act. Your response is
voluntary. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to an information collection unless it displays a current valid OMB
control number. The information collection has been approved by OMB and assigned OMB control No. 1018-0023. We estimate that it will take you about 5
minutes to read the instructions, fill in the envelope, and mail the wing. Comments on this form should be mailed to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275
Leesburg Pike, MS: BPHC, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.

FWS Form 3-165-A
Rev 04/15